NCS is the umbrella body for all IT professionals, interest groups, and stakeholders in Nigeria, boasting approximately 20,000 members across the nation’s 36 states.

With specialised groups such as ISPON, ITAN, NiWIIT, ITSSP, AITP, NITPCS, and structural organs including the College of Fellows, Chapters, and NACOS, NCS is dedicated to fostering innovation, professional excellence, and sustainable IT development in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the NCS Cybersecurity Forum is an annual top assembly of policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to discuss collaborative strategies for safeguarding Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

Opening the Forum, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, president of NCS, underscored the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s cybersecurity challenges through multilateral cooperation.

The forum combined technical workshops, networking sessions, and knowledge-sharing platforms aimed at empowering stakeholders with tools to protect cyberspace and foster local innovation.

In a landmark keynote address, Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, MD/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, delivered a strategic vision for achieving cyber sovereignty.

He emphasized the need for homegrown digital solutions, robust data protection frameworks, and reduced reliance on foreign infrastructure to secure the nation’s digital independence.

Continuing at the event, Dr. Aliyu outlined critical focus areas for national progress:

• Reinforcing Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: Aligning cybersecurity laws with global standards to protect vital digital assets.
• Prioritizing Cyber Talent Development: Expanding training programs, certifications, and academic support to build a resilient cyber workforce.
• Fostering Public-Private Synergy: Creating trusted channels for sharing threat intelligence and responding to cyber incidents swiftly.
• Cultivating a Cybersecurity Culture: Promoting widespread awareness and responsible digital behaviour across all sectors.
• Anticipating Emerging Threats: Evaluating risks associated with rapidly evolving technologies such as AI, IoT, and cloud computing.

As the conference drew to a close, NCS announced initiatives to amplify cybersecurity efforts nationwide—through policy advocacy, advanced training, and an upcoming national threat intelligence platform.

These measures, according to Dr. Aliyu, will ensure that Nigeria not only secures its digital assets but also positions itself as a continental leader in cybersecurity resilience.

What Lies Ahead?

According to Dr. Aliyu, the NCS plans to scale its engagement at future forums and workshops nationwide, developing specialized cybersecurity training, advocating policy refinement, and launching an information-sharing platform for industry players.

As Nigeria deepens its digital transformation, Dr. Aliyu believes strategic action and coordinated efforts will position the country as a cybersecurity-ready global hub.

A Pivotal Moment

The 2025 forum represents a shift: from reacting to threats to building a resilient digital foundation.

For Nigeria, it signals a bold step toward digital sovereignty—where data, infrastructure, and security lie firmly in national hands.

Keyword: Digital (Cybersecurity)  sovereignty

Cybersecurity sovereignty refers to a nation’s capacity to autonomously safeguard its digital infrastructure, data, and technologies from cyber threats.

This idea encompasses minimizing reliance on foreign entities for crucial cybersecurity components and services, allowing a nation to defend itself without unduly depending on foreign technological resources and innovations.

The post Nigerian Computer Society Pushes for Digital Sovereignty at 2025 Cybersecurity Forum appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

In the nomination category that had other top-performing power generation companies across Africa, Egbin Power clinched the award having implemented a series of safety initiatives to deepen its safety culture.

Some of the initiatives included 720 LACEUPS, Technical Safety Colloquium (TSC), What Have You Done for Egbin Station Today (WHYDFEST) Campaigns among others programmes executed by the company.

Founder and organiser of the AfriSafe Award, Femi Dasilva, noted that Egbin Power’s unwavering commitment to safety excellence made the GenCo outstanding.

“The company’s consistent dedication to creating a safe and sustainable working environment has set a new benchmark for the power generation industry in Africa. This well-deserved recognition is a testament to Egbin Power’s relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to high safety standards,” Dasilva remarked.

The 2024 AfriSafe Award was graced by dignitaries including ministers in the Zambian government, representatives of Nigeria’s House of Reps Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations. captains of industry and distinguished safety professionals from across over 24 African countries.

Speaking on the AfriSafe Award, Mokhtar Bounour, the CEO of Egbin Power, attributed the award to the commitment and teamwork of every member of staff of the company, saying:

“This award is a testament to the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of the board, management team and staff of Egbin Power. Our commitment to safety is not just a slogan; it’s a core value that permeates every aspect of our operations.

“This award further validates our focus on deepening the culture of safety, and we are immensely proud of our team for making it happen. By working together, we have set a new standard for safety excellence in the power generation industry. We will continue to strive for continuous improvement and remain steadfast in our pursuit of a zero-harm workplace,” Bounour expressed.

At a separate event held in furtherance of its commitment to safety excellence, Egbin Power held its annual QHSE Week, themed ‘Egbin DNA: Building a Culture of Safety and Sustainability in the Workplace.’

In celebrating the Week, employees participated in activities such as family safety moments which included, aerobics, practical training sessions anchored by Nigerian Red Cross officials who enlightened staff and their family members on first-aid and firefighting techniques.

The Week also featured presentations by various departments on ways to promote a Safety Culture in the organisation.

The Week was also attended by a delegation from the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) led by the National President, High Chief Dr. Stephen Awori Udezi, the chairman of the Lagos branch of the Institute Mr. Sola Ogunleye.

Others in attendance were Governing Board members Dr. Monica Nwosu, Dr. Lucky Oderhohwo, the Registrar, Mr. Ben Modebe and other Lagos branch Excos.

The high point of 2024 QHSE Week was the Grand Finale where the company unveiled its new Firefighting Truck and also awarded outstanding departments and employees who continuously demonstrated high commitment to Improving Egbin Power’s robust safety management system, while upholding high safety standards in the course of duty.

Egbin Power’s annual QHSE Week is a week-long programme organised by the QHSE Department to promote safety culture and drive operational excellence across the plant.

The theme lecture was delivered by the Visioner of QHSE Leadership Academy, Jamiu Badmos, who expounded on the activities that depict a sustainable safety culture, calling attention to the concept of ‘safetainability’ and ‘safegagement’ as key concepts in the sustainable safety culture journey.

Commenting on the annual QHSE Week, Head of QHSE, Egbin Power, Julius Akpong, said the company has a deeply entrenched safety culture and effective management system that guide employees and the company’s operations.

“At Egbin Power, we have built a strong safety culture and instituted a structured approach to occupational safety management over the years. Workplace safety is a priority and part of our core values: Safety, Professionalism, Integrity & Discipline, Commitment to Stakeholders, Environmental Consciousness and Sustainability (SPICES).

ISPON honoured Egbin Power’s Chairman, Board of Directors and the CEO with Special Recognition awards for their high commitment to safety, evident with recent achievements such as the triple ISO certifications, bolstering safety in the company, a new firefighting truck among other huge investments.

Bounour was awarded a professional Fellow of ISPON, which will be conferred on him at the next induction ceremony of the Institute. At the same time, the Governor General of the World Safety Organisation (WSO), Dr. Wilson Arikpo invested Bounour as a Safety and Emergency Response Ready (SafERR) Ambassador, while recognition awards were also given to the CEO, the Board of Directors and the Head of QHSE for effective QHSE management, and for being emergency response ready.

ISPON used the occasion to commend the Board of Directors and the management team of Egbin Power for their leadership commitment to Safety and for running a green organisation.

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According to ISPON, the certification further solidifies Egbin Power’s efforts towards promoting high safety standards and building a highly competent workforce equipped with expertise in safety management.

During the ceremony organised at Egbin Power Plant, the new members were inducted into the Institute and presented with membership certificates, following the obligatory training, assessment and screening carried out by ISPON.

Speaking on the occasion, Julius Akpong, the head of Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE), stated that the accomplishment further identifies the GenCo as a safety-oriented and compliant organisation.

“The induction of these employees into ISPON is a testament to our unwavering commitment to high safety practices and standards.

“We believe that by empowering our workforce, we can create a safer and more productive work environment for all. We operate in a sector where safety is paramount at all times; thus, as a responsible organisation, safety is our culture and it is the responsibility of everyone,” Akpong said.

ISPON’s National President, Kaizer Ebiwari, noted that every member of the Institute has the responsibility of promoting safety awareness in the workplace, at home and across Nigeria.

“The ISPON, certification, therefore empowers these individuals to become advocates for safety, not only within Egbin Power but also in their communities. Their expertise will be invaluable in enhancing safety practices and preventing accidents,” he stated.

Ebiwari further commended Egbin Power and the employees for embracing high safety standards while encouraging professionalism among its workforce. He noted that the newly inducted employees will play a crucial role in advancing safety within Egbin Power and the broader Nigerian power industry., adding that their knowledge and skills will contribute to the development and implementation of effective safety measures, ensuring a safer and more sustainable operating environment.

The training was facilitated through the collaboration of ISPON and Egbin Power’s Learning Academy, which is an in-house programme designed to provide regular and specialised training to enable employees acquire the necessary expertise to meet the employees’ needs.

The 28 employees completed the required training curriculum, which is equivalent to ISPON Level 3, thereby qualifying for membership into the Institute following the statutory examination and screening.

Among the management team of Egbin Power in attendance were the Head of HR, Gabriel Nkanga; Chief Corporate Services Officer, Emmanuel Udu; Head of Corporate Communication & Branding, Felix Ofulue; Head of Maintenance, Felix Ebiware and Head of Support Service, Kayode Ayeni.

Other ISPON officials at the occasion included the Deputy President of ISPON, Chief Dr. Stephen Udesi and the Registrar, Benson Adam-Otete.

Nkanga applauded the Institute and the inductees saying: “The ISPON induction is a significant milestone for Egbin Power. It validates our commitment to safety excellence and provides our employees with the necessary tools to drive continuous improvement in our safety practices.”

One of the inductees, Esther Adediji in the QHSE Department said:

“Egbin Power has been instrumental in my journey to ISPON certification and I’m excited to leverage this accomplishment to drive safety improvements within the company and participate in industry-wide initiatives.”

“Joining ISPON has significantly contributed to my professional development and has laid the groundwork for my ambition to achieve other certifications,” Mayowa Ajuwon in the Support Service Department said.

As Egbin Power continues to prioritise safety and sustainability, its collaboration with ISPON further strengthens the company’s position as a leader in the power sector.

ISPON is recognised by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to regulate the practice of safety management in collaboration with relevant government agencies, as empowered by the ISPON Act 2014.

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Information available to Techeconomy indicates the AGM will be held on Friday, August 23, 2024.

Each year, members of ISPON come together to discuss progresses made from the past year, discuss the current challenges being faced in the Nigerian information technology industry and deliberate on strategies to help the Institute develop in the next one year.

“After one year in office, the 2023/2025 ISPON NEC led by Mr. Bimbo Abioye is excited to engage with members in a bid to seek collaboration towards the growth and advancement of the Institute”, the statement reads.

ISPON was formed in 1999 with the aim of creating an enabling environment for local content developers to thrive and compete internationally.

The Institute has been in the fore front of championing the utilization of Nigerian developed software in order to boost our economy and give Nigeria an alternative to oil as a revenue earner.

The post ISPON Holds AGM this Week appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Artificial Intelligence utilization holds the potential to foster Africa’s growth and progress as well as lead to unfavorable outcomes.

Therefore, it is imperative for Africa to embrace its adoption, construct AI systems that operate with ethical principles, and make establishment of AI research centers a priority.

In fact, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) is leading this charge to awaken Nigerian developers on the necessary steps to take, to be recognized in the fast-growing AI adoption.

Speaking at ISPON Conference and Extraordinary General Meeting (AGM) held on Friday, June 16, 2023 in Lagos, Dr. Evans Woherem, Founder of Digital Africa, and a member of the Institute (ISPON), reiterated the need for AI research, innovation and investments.

He said these are part of national strategies members of the Institute should leverage to harness the potential of AI while addressing the associated risks and challenges in the country.

In his lecture titled, “National Software Challenges, Opportunities and Risks”, Woherem urged the Nigerian Software practitioners to be proactive and do more in the area of research as opposed to depending entirely on the western community.

He stressed that the government, individuals and organizations should also be part of technology growth by facilitating funding in the area of research initiatives, upskilling, reskilling and talent development, especially with regards to AI.

“The technology that would inform how we live in this 21st century and beyond are already being fabricated in the laboratories of the west, Japan, China and in places like Iceland”

“But here in Africa we don’t do much research in terms of developing new Technologies, we are almost like a follower Continent, ” Woherem said.

He also said that in addition to funding research initiatives, the industry should encourage interdisciplinary collaborations through cross-pollination of ideas and knowledge.

Woherem said that other national strategies such as Ethical and responsible AI framework, Domestication of Ai systems to African Environment and impact study institutes, would improve AI useability in the country.

Furthermore, he said that establishing an ethical and responsible AI framework would help to increase transparency and fairness, mitigate Bias, and facilitate privacy and data protection.

Woherem who spoke on the suitability of the AI materials consumed in the country said that information technology comes with the culture, and mindset of those that developed them.

He stressed that it is therefore possible for some of these technologies to change the culture of foreigners consuming them.

We have to find a way to inspect foreign developed systems, so that we can customize, recalibrate and re-parameterize the system to speak to AI in our Nigerian community,”

Woherem said.

He added that the discussed strategies will help to solve the problem of ethical considerations, algorithmic bias and fairness and limited human oversight.

However, he noted that AI regulatory and control departments and agencies are necessary to craft comprehensive regulatory frameworks that address the ethical, legal, and societal aspects of AI and implement mechanisms to ensure compliance with its regulations.

The post ISPON: Why Indigenous Software Developers Should Invest in AI Research, according to Dr Woherem appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Members of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), have elected new executives to lead the group from 2023 to 2025.

TechEconomy can report that Mr. Bimbo Abioye, an accountant turned IT executive, has been elected the President of ISPON.

He takes over from Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, the immediate past president.

ISPON is the industry professional body for indigenous software developers and practitioners in Nigeria.

Meet the ISPON Executives 2023-2025

1. President: Bimbo Abioye
2. 1st Vice President: Mrs. Fatumata Soukouna-Coker
3. General Secretary: Efe Emore
4. Treasurer: Mr. Raymond Osumah
5. Chair, Policy & Strategy Committee: Dr. Uche Mbanaso
6. Chair, Diaspora Committee: Prof. Yakub Aliyu
7. Chair, Media & Publicity Committee: Uzo Nwani
8. Chair, Education & Capacity Building Committee: Peter Ogedengbe
9. Chair, Membership Committee: Israel Olakanmi

The new executives were elected at ISPON Conference and Extraordinary General Meeting (AGM) held on Friday, June 16, 2023 in Lagos.

Bimbo Abioye

The experienced Chief Executive Officer of FinTrak Software Company, has a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry.

Skilled in risk management, enterprise software, data warehousing, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and management consulting, Mr. Abioye is a strong business development professional.

Bimbo Abioye holds an MBA in information technology from Olabisi Onabanjo University and a certification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He worked at ADH as an internal auditor for two years and later as head of finance and systems at the same company.

He later moved to Reliance Bank, where he worked as a group head for financial control and ICT services and Acting General Manager of Operations and Technology.

He has been the Group Managing Director at FinTrak Software since 2006.

The post ISPON Elects new Executives for 2023-2025, Bimbo Abioye Emerges President appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) will hold an International Conference at her Extraordinary General Meeting scheduled for Friday, June 16, 2023.

The flagship Conference will hold at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja Lagos. The EGM will usher in a new digital trajectory and National Software Roadmap.

Also, ISPON will elect the National Executive Council for the 2023 – 2025 tenure.

The new ISPON NEC is tasked with the responsibility of guiding the Institute in its quest to champion strategies for the adoption of the fourth industrial revolution in Nigeria.

The EGM will also feature a keynote on AI – to be delivered by Dr. Evans Woherem; Founder/Chairman, Digital Africa.

The EGM provides an avenue for members to discuss industry issues, share ideas network and make valuable recommendations to the Federal government of Nigeria and by extension, the African Union.

The DG’s of NITDA and NOTAP, Presidents of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and Nigeria Professionals Registration Council (CPN), MD, Bank of Industry as well as distinguished government and Industry stakeholders have been invited as Special Guests of honour.

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Innovative fuelless power generation company, Windelectric Nigeria has availed Nigerians of its unique range of power generation systems that requires no fossil fuel to generate industrial-grade power.

At an event held penultimate Thursday in Lagos organized by Tech TV called Digital Agenda Forum 2022, the proponents of Windelectric Nigeria, explained to a cross section of technology enthusiasts about the fundamental components and work-ability of the fuelless generator.

During his presentation, a director of the company, Professor Ademola Akinrinade, explained that the fuelless generator was from the application of some basic principles of Physics that relied mostly on a magnetic field created to replenish itself and at the same time generate power.

Prof Akinrinade explained that Windelectric Nigeria was born out of a need to not only help Nigeria solve its energy crisis but also to aid the country’s quest at Industrial Revolution.

Citing several sources, Professor Ademola explained that lack of electricity has stunted the growth of the industrial sector within the small and medium-scale Enterprise Arena in Nigeria.

But with the innovative fuelless generator from Windelectric Nigeria, the country now has the capacity to focus less on issues surrounding power supply and focus more on actual production.

He went further to state that in reality, the electromagnetic powered generator from Windelectric Nigeria is a better definition of what green energy actually is. According to him, “unlike some other green energy solutions like battery, wind and solar, what Windelectric Nigeria is bringing to the table is the only real and truly green energy that can power industrial sector alongside thermal power”.

At the event which had in attendance Technology eggheads like Dr. Pius Okigbo jnr, the past president of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Dr. Macdonalds Chidi from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Rita Ndidi Amuchenwa, country executive leader Intel Corporation west Africa, Her Excellency Samata Gifty Bukari, Ghana Consulate General to Nigeria, Engr. James Agada of Ixzdore Laboratories, Dr. Victoria Ekhomo of Transworld Security, and a plethora of other technology enthusiasts and experts, the focus was basically to discuss and dissect the technology landscape for the country going forward.

With such objective the theme from Windelectric Nigeria which was led by its chairman and chief executive officer, Engr. Tunji Ishola, made a promise that utilizing the advantages or the fuelless generator all other technology advancements of the country can be realized especially when the issue of free and renewable energy is added into the mix.

While receiving the award for Most Innovative Renewable Energy provider from the organizers of the event represented by Don Pedro Aganbi, the CEO of Windelectric Nigeria promised to use the award as a motivator to spread the gospel of renewable energy across the country and continent.

Windelectric Nigeria  is a credible Nigerian company based in Ogun state, Nigeria and its team is comprised of individuals with wide experience in power generation technologies.

They have explored the open source journals of one of the greatest inventors of all time, Nicola Tesla to design & model the Windelectric Magnetic Power Generator (WMPG).

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The event was held on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

This follows a similar development two weeks prior, when Mr Obaro also received a “Special Recognition Award” at the Nigeria Fintech Awards for his pioneering leadership in the development of the fintech ecosystem in Nigeria.

A distinguished alumnus of the Ahmadu Bello University, University of Lagos, and the Chief Executive Program (CEP3) of Lagos Business School, John Obaro founded Systemspecs Limited 30 years ago. In the last decade, SystemSpecs has become a trailblazer in the Nigerian e-Payment space with its Remita solution, which enables efficient and easy payments and collections of funds for Individuals and corporates. Other leading solutions from SystemSpecs include HumanManager, an indigenous HR management and payroll solution, and FundACause, a solution developed to address the unique challenges of raising funds, amongst others.

In expressing his appreciation to the organisers of the awards, Mr John Obaro said: “My heartfelt gratitude goes to the organisers of the CIO Awards for the Lifetime Achievement Special Award. I am excited to see that our work is appreciated.

Three decades ago, we started SystemSpecs with the vision of being the software institution of reference in Africa, and so far, the journey has been fruitful.

In collaborating with other stakeholders in the industry, we have been able to accelerate our output and increase our value to customers by offering them simplified and innovative software solutions. Be assured that we will not rest on our oars.”

Obaro is a fellow of the Centre for African Policy Development and Research, Glasgow, Scotland; a fellow of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS); an ex-member of the Governing Council of Computers Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN) – the highest industry practice regulatory body; and past 1st Vice President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).

Known in many circles as ‘The Consummate Innovator’, John Obaro has previously been recognised with the honour of  Leadership in Technology at the 2016 African Achievement Awards in Scotland; Nigeria’s IT Personality of the Year; Software Personality of the Year at the Nigeria Communication Week’s Beacon of Information and Communications Technology (BoICT) Awards; Engineer Simeon Agu Prize for Best Software Entrepreneur at the National Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA); in addition to other numerous indigenous and international awards over the years.

Photos:

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The event aimed at proffering solutions to challenges faced in the ecosystem had various critical players from multiple industries at the Bon Hotel in Lagos.

Kahisfu Inuwa, NITDA’s Director-General, represented by Engr. Salisu Kaka, the Agency’s Digital Economy Department Acting Director, expressed his pleasure at the turnout and appreciated all innovators present despite their busy schedules.

The DG, while giving his opening remark, stated that a symbiotic relationship between the Government and the players in the ecosystem was essential to achieve a collective desired result. “Whatever the government is out to achieve, the private sector should help the government achieve it, and whatever the private sector is set to achieve, the government should help and support,” he stated.

Inuwa disclosed that the engagement was geared at interacting with the stakeholders to identify challenges faced by the ecosystem and proffering solutions to them.

He emphasized the need to map out a partnership framework between the Agency and the ecosystem in addressing these identified challenges.

Speaking on the vast amount of human and natural resources amassed by the Nation, the NITDA DG urged stakeholders in the Software and Innovation ecosystem to harness and utilize these resources for optimal productivity.

He emphatically admonished all participants to freely critique constructively, challenge what needs to be challenged, and also give recommendations on how the challenges faced can be surmounted.

“We are here to listen to you, and I am positive that today will be a historical day where we co-create and re-identify our routes in bridging identified gaps and creating a bright future,” he concluded.

The Acting Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Yakubu Musa, while intimating the ecosystem stakeholders on the realignment of the former specially purpose vehicles (SPVs), introduced the strategic intents of the ONDI as well as initiatives.

“The ONDI has been mandated to work with the ecosystem to design and implement strategic programs and initiatives that will drive and foster the ecosystem’s growth through interventions and addressing some of the issues being faced in the ecosystem,” he averred.

Musa, in his remark, stated that ‘strategic human capital development, ‘funding and support to the ecosystem,’ ‘research and insights,’ ‘monitoring and compliance,’ ‘partnerships’ and ‘implementation of guidelines’ are the focus areas in which the Agency is willing to collaborate with the stakeholders in creating a formidable and enviable ecosystem.

Mr. ChinenyeMba-Uzoukwu, the President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), while giving a recap of contributions made by all heads of Industries, Groups, and Associations present, thanked the Agency for the insightful event but clamoured for a more effective communication and transparency.

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